India’s rapid technological advancements have brought about unprecedented digital transformations. However, these developments have also exposed a deepening digital divide, creating inequalities between those with access to the internet and information and communication technologies (ICTs) and those without.
According to the International Telecommunication Union’s World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, only 43 percent of India’s population currently uses the internet. 58 percent of internet users are male, while only 42 percent are female. However, a significantly larger gender gap exists in internet usage. Only 57.1 percent of males and 33.3 percent of females have ever used the internet. This gender gap persists across all states.
While 72.5 percent of urban males and 51.8 percent of urban females have ever used the internet, the figures drop to 48.7 percent for rural males and a mere 24.6 percent for rural females. It is noteworthy that across all states, urban males exhibit the highest internet usage rates, while rural females have the lowest.
The rural-urban breakdown of mobile phone ownership also reveals a gap. Generally, a higher percentage of urban women own mobile phones compared to their rural counterparts. However, in states and union territories like Kerala, Ladakh, Delhi, Andaman, and Nicobar, rural women have greater access to mobile phones.
The existing digital divide in India has severe social implications. Limited access to technology perpetuates social exclusion and denies individuals essential resources. With increasing dependence on digital technologies and the internet, the digital divide adversely affects education, health, mobility, safety, financial inclusion, and various aspects of daily life.
Improving digital infrastructure is crucial to ensure equal physical access to ICT across all sections of society. Simultaneously, motivating underprivileged groups to embrace technology and providing them with digital skills are vital steps toward bridging the divide.
